FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

23 NOVEMBER 2014

HALIFAX, NS –The 2014 Halifax International Security Forum has united individuals who are on the ground facing consequential local threats, writers who challenge and influence the world’s thinking on security, and decision-makers who make the tough choices. These individuals completed a successful conference today and set the security agenda for the upcoming year.

The 6th annual Halifax International Security Forum featured three hundred participants from sixty countries, including the largest US congressional delegation to set foot in Canada, led by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), and international security leaders from the Americas, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East.

“We met against the backdrop of a turbulent, troubling year and we are tackling the challenges ahead as a network of thinkers who are committed to improving our prospects for peace,” said Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax International Security Forum. “Our systems, with values that lead to democracy, opportunity and peace are better than the alternative. Let’s take good care to secure them strongly in 2015.”

The Halifax International Security Forum featured an introductory session that was broadcast live online, eight plenary sessions, a Halifax Chat with the 11th President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, numerous senior level nation-to-nation meetings as well as off-the-record discussions about today’s most pressing security issues. Political leaders, senior military officers, business leaders, academics and members of the media spoke frankly about war, peace, leadership, Africa, resources and new challenges such as cyber security.

Together with Ipsos, the leading global market and opinion research firm, the Halifax International Security Forum released new findings about global views of today’s crises. These findings indicate global citizens increasingly see the world as a more dangerous place and are more fearful of armed conflict and epidemics.

The Halifax International Security Forum is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC. The Forum is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including the Government of Canada, the Halifax Canada Club and our media partner Foreign Affairs who share the vision that a more peaceful, cooperative and secure world is achievable.

A full list of participants and a detailed agenda, as well as photos and videos from the 2014 conference, is available at www.halifaxtheforum.org

The Halifax International Security Forum is on Twitter @HFXforum. Our conference conversation uses #HISF2014

For more information about the Halifax International Security Forum please contact our communications team at: communications@halifaxtheforum.org